President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela dies at 58

January 4, 2013 7:39 AM

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the National Assembly during Independence Day in Caracas on July 5, 2012.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the National Assembly during Independence Day in Caracas on July 5, 2012.

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the National Assembly during... Photo-3983166.54690 - SFGate

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves a Venezuelan flag while speaking to supporters after receiving news of his reelection in Caracas on October 7, 2012. According to the National Electoral Council, Chavez was reelected with 54.42% of the votes, beating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, who obtained 44.97%. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/GettyImages) less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves a Venezuelan flag while speaking to supporters after receiving news of his reelection in Caracas on October 7, 2012. According to the National Electoral Council, Chavez ... more

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures as he speaks to delegates at the Climate Change Conference on December 16, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures as he speaks to delegates at the Climate Change Conference on December 16, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures as he speaks to delegates... Photo-3983116.54690 - SFGate

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President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez (L) listens to a speaker at the 64th General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters on September 23, 2009 in New York City.

President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez (L) listens to a speaker at the 64th General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters on September 23, 2009 in New York City.

Photo: Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images

President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez (L) listens to a speaker at the... Photo-3983124.54690 - SFGate

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Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, walks alongside Vice-President and Minister of Defense, Ramon Carrizalez, and members of the military during an act commemorating the failed coup against Chavez in April 2002 in Caracas on April 13, 2009. less

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, walks alongside Vice-President and Minister of Defense, Ramon Carrizalez, and members of the military during an act commemorating the failed coup against Chavez in April 2002 ... more

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez holds up a book by Noam Chomsky "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance (The American Empire Project)" while addressing the United Nations General Assembly September 20, 2006 at the UN in New York City. less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez holds up a book by Noam Chomsky "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance (The American Empire Project)" while addressing the United Nations General Assembly ... more

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez holds up a book by Noam Chomsky... Photo-3983112.54690 - SFGate

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez drinks from a cup of coffee during a news conference while attending the United Nations General Assembly September 20, 2006 at the UN in New York City.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez drinks from a cup of coffee during a news conference while attending the United Nations General Assembly September 20, 2006 at the UN in New York City.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greets supporters 19 August, 2002, as he leaves the Caracas cathedral. Chavez is celebrating the second anniversary of his second government. Chavez was elected in December 1999 for a five-year term, but was re-elected in July 2000 and assumed power 19 August under a new constitution. less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greets supporters 19 August, 2002, as he leaves the Caracas cathedral. Chavez is celebrating the second anniversary of his second government. Chavez was elected in December 1999 ... more

Fidel Castro confers with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez 11 August 2001 in Bolivar City. Castro is visiting Venezuela to strengthen ties with Chavez, who has shown a keen interest in taking lessons from the Cuban president on introducing sweeping social change. Castro, who will turn 75 in two days after 42 years in power, arrived at Maiquetia airport outside Caracas on his sixth trip to Venezuela but his third since the charismatic Chavez, 47, took the president's post in February 1999. less

Fidel Castro confers with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez 11 August 2001 in Bolivar City. Castro is visiting Venezuela to strengthen ties with Chavez, who has shown a keen interest in taking lessons from the ... more

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hugs Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud during the official photo session at the end of the OPEC II Summit of oil producing countries in Caracaas 28 September, 2000. less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hugs Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud during the official photo session at the end of the OPEC II Summit of oil producing countries in Caracaas 28 ... more

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks as his wife Marisabel de Chavez wipes sweat from his face as he celebrates the results of the 30 July 2000 presidential elections in Caracas. With 77 percent of the vote counted, official results give Chavez a large margin with 2.9 million votes. His opponent Francisco Arias Cardenas received 1.8 million votes. less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks as his wife Marisabel de Chavez wipes sweat from his face as he celebrates the results of the 30 July 2000 presidential elections in Caracas. With 77 percent of the vote ... more

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez poses with Venezuelan Major League Baseball players (L-R) Kelvim Escobar of the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets players Melvin Mora, Roger Cedeno and Edgardo Alfonso 09 June, 1999 before the Mets game against the Blue Jays at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY. Chavez threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the beginning of the game. less

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez poses with Venezuelan Major League Baseball players (L-R) Kelvim Escobar of the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets players Melvin Mora, Roger Cedeno and Edgardo Alfonso 09 ... more

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition candidate for the presidential election in Venezuela Manuel Rosales show a Chavez puppet with a noose during his closure rally in the oil rich state of Zulia in 2006.

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition candidate for the presidential election in Venezuela Manuel Rosales show a Chavez puppet with a noose during his closure rally in the oil rich state of Zulia in 2006.